8:1-22. BILDAD'S FIRST ADDRESS.

1 Then answered Bildad the Shuhite, and said,
2 "How long will you speak these things? and how long shall the words of your mouth be like a strong wind?

3 Does GOD (El) pervert judgment? or does The Almighty pervert justice?

4 If your sons have sinned against Him, and He have cast them away by the hand of their rebellion; (By there own act.)
5 If you would seek unto God betimes, and make your supplication to The Almighty;
6 If You were pure and upright; surely now He would awake for you (i.e. hear your prayer. See Pss. 7:6; 35:23; 44:25), and make the your righteous home prosperous.
7 Though your beginning was small, yet your latter end should greatly increase.

8 For inquire, I pray you, of the former age, and prepare yourself to the search of their fathers:
9 (For we are but of yesterday, and know nothing, because our days upon earth are a shadow:)
10 Shall not they teach you, and tell you, and utter words out of their heart [such as these]?
11 Can the rush grow up without mire? can the flag grow without water?
12 While it is yet in his greenness, and not cut down, it withers before any other herb.
13 So are the paths (Sept. "the latter end") of all that forget God; and the hypocrite's hope shall perish:
14 Whose confidence shall be cut off, and whose trust shall be a spider's web.
15 He shall lean upon his house, but it shall not stand: he shall hold it fast, but it shall not endure.
16 He [like a tree] is green before the sun, and his branch shoots forth in his garden.
17 His roots are wrapped about a spring (or fountain, as in Song 4:12), and overlooks (or overtops) the house of stones.
18 If he (the tree) destroy him from his place, then it (the tree) shall deny him, saying, I have not seen you.
19 Behold, this ends the joy of his way, and out of the earth shall others grow.

20 Behold, God will not cast away a perfect man, neither will He take by the hand the evil doers:
21 Till he fill your mouth with laughing, and your lips with shouting for joy.

22 They that hate you shall be clothed with shame (Cp. Pss. 35:26; 109:29; 132:18); and the tent of the lawless shall come to nothing.